Mistletoe's Musings

Is this a form of nepotism or just plain corruption? I have no say in American politics but I fear the way their country makes its choices of who leads them when this sort of thing goes on.

In other news, why does Alan Green have to commentate on England games? He never enjoys them and moans the whole time he is on. It's as bad as sitting next to one of those people at the match who berates the manager, the players and the tactics even when the team wins. OK, 5 - 1 was a flattering scoreline but at the end of the qualifying who cares if England were poor in October. The Kazakhstan team played gamely until about 75 minutes and then ran out of steam. England are top of the group and have to toddle off to Belarus for Wednesday. See how they do there.

Meanwhile to the shops today via a furniture store to look at a new sofa and chair for the parents. Didn't see anything we liked so Dalton Park beckoned. Mam got new shoes and a electric whizzy thing to froth hot milk for cappuccino style drinks. I got a new casserole and some rosemary. We had very nice pork sandwiches for lunch which have disagreed with me ever since. Home in time for football. As usual watched a bit of the racing and picked out the winner of the first race at 15/2 for a change. My other system was responsible instead of my usual 8/1 shot tactics. My other secret is horses with Red in their name. This time it was Red Admiral. This trick goes back to the 70s when Red Alligator won the Grand National. If I put actual money on them I might come out ahead.

Columbus Day tomorrow I see and in honour of that the boring old term of the weekend is family boat. This was a boat used in pioneer times by a family emigrating down rivers like the Ohio and Mississippi. Just like in How the West Was Won then with James Stewart and Carole Baker. I saw that at the pictures years ago.

Gad you can't win. We have had glorious and hot weather since Friday. So I have not had a decent night's sleep since then. I'm melting, I'm melting. I don't know how people cope in properly hot places. Anyhoo today is muggy and close yet windy with some hazy sunshine. Storms are forecast and in the last few minutes it has just got pleasant in my flat with a hint of a breeze on my leg.

Update desk.

• My David Boreanaz unofficial 2009 calendar has arrived and I must say the pictures look more up to date than this year's offerings, some of which must be 10 years old. I have got one for home viewing and one to take to work for my classroom.
• Durham never really threatened in the 20Twenty semi-final and were well beaten by Middlesex who went on to win the final. C'est la guerre.
• Mr Keane has made two signings for the new season and is in the throes of a third. Hello to Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and possibly El Hadj Djouf. Good English names there. So, three castoffs from Spurs and Bolton, but at least they haven't cost very much. We also have a released goalkeeper from Ipswich and some teenager from Ireland. He's hardly pulling up trees with that lot.
• I have made some new icons the cheat's way with iconmaker. They look quite nice and my current default is a picture I took myself while on holiday in New York. Dramatic eh?
• Today is my mam and dad's wedding anniversary. 1951 they were married. Good luck to them.
• Debra gave me Richard Burton doing Under Milk Wood for her leaving do. We all got a gift. I gave her a slightly crazed plate from the Age Concern Charity shop. It seemed fitting.

That's all I have strength for.